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Melissa Lee's avatar

Hi Ali, what a lovely piece of artwork. I adore blue tits, my next post is going to be all about them - I'll be sure to link to this post if you don't mind? The bit about the colouring is fascinating, and I'd completely forgotten about the milk tops! But I do remember that happening when I was a child.

I have a pair nesting outside my kitchen window, feeding babies as we speak 😍

I wonder if you move your nest box if they'll be persuaded to take up residence? Once they move in, they tend to come back.

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Ali Edwards's avatar

Hi Melissa - yes, of course - link away! We put up new nest boxes when we moved in, but the one I refer to in this article was here when we bought the house and is in a very exposed position (not sure if it can ever have had any residents!) - we just haven't gotten around to taking it down as it also seems to be attractive to different sorts of bees for overwintering!

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Melissa Lee's avatar

Oh fab, I love the idea of overwintering bees 💚🌿

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Gem King's avatar

How lovely, thank you for sharing. I am scolded by blue tits on an almost daily basis - especially when refilling my bird feeders!

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Ali Edwards's avatar

Thanks Gem - it was a joy to research! Do you think they're telling you to refill faster?!

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Gem King's avatar

I hope so but I suspect it’s something a bit ruder 😂

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Gary Webb's avatar

A fascinating article and illustration, thanks for sharing!

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Marianna Boi's avatar

Great article and amazing illustrations!

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Ali Edwards's avatar

Thanks Marianna! Glad you enjoyed it.

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Juliet Wilson's avatar

Lovely article. Blue Tits are very characterful birds and I've seen them nesting in some odd places!

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Ali Edwards's avatar

Thanks Juliet - yes, they seem to be able to find their way into the tiniest of little spaces. Last year I witnessed one seemingly about to fly straight into an old stone wall and, at the last minute, they bunched up and somehow disappeared into a small hole - they must have bounced on entry!

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